SACREEE's mandate is to promote market-based adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and energy services in SADC Member States through: resource mobilisation, policy, quality assurance, capacity building and knowledge management, communication, promoting investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and programmes.

SACREEE focuses on programs and projects that can best be implemented at the regional level. These include harmonisation of policy approaches, regulation and standards, investment coordination, and regional capacity building and knowledge building measures. The technology scope includes all renewable energies, which are viable within the region, but in the case of hydropower is be limited to below 30MW. In the energy efficiency field, SACREEE focuses on industrial, domestic and building design and construction applications.